75° 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [May r, 1890. 
EOYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, PERADENIYA, 
IN 1838 AND SUCCEEDING YEARS. 
List of Fruit Trees at the Botanic Garden 
Peradenia op which there are young 
plants fit to be removed. 
s Nephelium lappaceum . . Rambutan 
s Mespilus japonica . . Loquat 
Punica granatum . . . . Pomegranate 
s Garcenia Mangostan (qy) Mangosteen 
Cookie punctata . . . . Wampee 
Cynometra Caulifiora . . Namnam 
s Dimocarpus Litchi . . Leecb.ee China 
s Mangifera Indica . . . . Mango the com- 
mon kind 
s Laurus persea . . . . Avacado pear 
b Eugenia Malaccensis . . Jambu 
do Jambos . . . . Rose apple 
Psidium pyriferum . . White guava 
s do pomiferum . . Red do 
s do Pumilum .. dw£ do 
s Annona Squamosa . . Sugar apple 
Morus Indica . . . . Mulberry 
6 Citrus Aurantiuni . . . . Orange good kind 
s Citrus Nobilis . . , . Mandar in orange 
s do decumana .. Pumplemos 
Feronia elephantum . . Wood apple 
s Canarium Commune , . Java Almond 
Peradenia, April 23rd, 13. 
To His Excellency the Governor. 
Sir, — The great encouragement I have received 
from your Excellency, and the authorities of your 
wise government has impressed me with more than 
usual anxiety to forward any object under your 
direction, that may come wuhin the reach of my 
occupation, or capacity ; which united to the atten- 
tion I am happy to know your Excellency pays 
the Science of Botany, I hoce wi:l plead sufficient 
apology for my presumption, in humbly submit- 
ting the following to your Excellency's con- 
sideration. 
During the time I have spent upon this rich 
Island my researches have been rewarded with so 
much success that I have sent to England 15 and 
have in hand 22, total 67, different living speci- 
mens of oruhideie plants, and every Tour the 
more convinces me that those already found convey 
but an imperfect idea of those existing yet 
to be discovered. Many of the above were not 
amongst the drawings, or specimens, at the Botanio 
Garden, Peradenia, (though some were found within 
a few miles of that place) and am sorry to say 
some will probably be lost to the collection there. 
I have personally taken and sent specimens to that 
Establishment, which by some unaccountable negli- 
gence have neither been drawn, or otherwise pre- 
served, and the scarcity of the plants has sometimes 
compelled me to rest satisfied with my own written 
descriptions of them; neither is it convenient, or suit- 
able, to the economy of my plans to do further justice 
to them in a jungle where I am often exposed to the 
greatest possible difficulties. Will your Excellency 
therefore be x_>leased to consent to the plants been 
speedily drawn, (which will be chiefly orchideas) 
that 1 send to the Botanic Garden, Peradenia ; and 
direct that such attention be paid to it as may 
correspond with your Excellency's own inclination 
when the most powerful exertion on my part 
shall be used to forward from all parts of the Itland 
I may visit, such plants that are rare, or will 
prove an addition to the number already discovered. 
X further most humbly beg your Excellency will 
grant me a copy from the Botanic Garden, where 
til'.- plant ia scarce or difficult to bo preserved. This 
J utter is more than I would presume to ask (how- 
ever greatly it would benefit me), but I have seen 
too often with much sorrow, the Draftsman on the 
establishment wanting better employ. 
It will doubtless be known to your Excellency, 
that my occupation on this Island, cannot be 
maintained without considerable expense to my 
enthusiastic employer J. Knight Esq., whose motive 
I believe in sending me here, was more the ad- 
vancement of Science than speculative emolument, 
But I hope your Excellency will admit, it is due 
from me as his servant, to solicit your Excellency's 
protection to him against the risk of sacrifice in 
capital, as far as it is practicable on this Island, 
and wise in the opinion of your Excellency's govern- 
ment. The above object will be greatly secured 
by prohibiting the exportation to England, (from 
the Royal Botanic Garden, Peradecia) of those 
plants in a live state. I send these for the above 
purposes, collected by my own individual exertion. 
I do not even remotely desire to monopolize the 
privilege of sending home living specimens, but 
to have the merit (if I may be allowed the expres- 
sion,) of making any new discovery, and securing 
to my employer the benefit of their circulation 
at home if possible, to compensate him for his 
outlay. Will it, moreover, be pleasing to your 
Excellency to direct, that the contributions I make 
to the Botanic Garden collection of drawings, or 
Hortus Siccus, be acknowledged on affixed labels, 
or otherwise, particularly if sent to England, ac- 
companying my own remarks as to the particular 
habits of the plant &e. 
I further most humbly beg, (if your Excellency 
be graciously pleased to notice the above) I may 
be informed in due course, if it meets your appro- 
bation, and if my efforts will have protection 
against an indifferent regard to correctness, where 
the duty rests, for the performance of your Excel- 
lency's command in that particular. 
I have the Honor to Remain, Sir, Your Excel- 
lency's Humble and obdt. Servt. 
J. Lear, ) 
for J. Knight, Esqr.) 
Peradenia, April 23d, 1838. 
The Rt. Hon'ble J. A. Stewart Mackenzie, 
&C, &c,, &c, Queen's House. 
Peradenia, May 11th, 1838. 
Sir, — I most humbly beg to return my grateful 
acknowledgments for your Excellency's kind at- 
tention to my request of April 23rd which I have 
duly received per letter with its enclosure. It has 
filled me with new energy for the performance of 
my hazardous duties and will strengthen every 
effort of mine that may have a tendency to merit 
a continuance of your Excellency's encouragement 
and good opinion. 
I have the Honor to Remain, Sir, Your Excel- 
lency's most obdt. Servant, 
J. Lear, 
The Rt. Hon'blo J. A. Stewart Mackenzie &c, 
&c, &c, Colombo. 
Sir, — I have felt it my pleasing Duty in the 
absence of Mr. Watson to forward for Your Excel- 
lency's Inspection the accompanying Forty Drawings, 
twenty of which have already been before you and 
lately sent me by Col. Walker. The remainder have 
been executed since my return from Putlam (and 
in great part collected on that route) by the Drafts- 
man of the Establishment at Peradenia. 
They represent the true character of the orchideae 
to be found on thai lice of country, but are 
wanting in the essential points of a ^ocd Drawing 
Botanical .Desertion, (sic.) a fault I hope will be 
hereafter remedied. I hope to be in Colombo 
